11/3/23, 7:10 PM AAPC CPC Prep Course - Chap 2 Notes
CPC Prep course
Chapter 2 Notes
Medical Terminology and Anatomy Review
Intro:
● A thorough knowledge of human anatomy is essential to successful coding, as is the
ability to understand medical terminology used to describe and document medical
procedures and services
● This chapter introduces the basic elements of human anatomy and reviews medical
vocabulary and terminology
● Objectives:
○ Understand the language of medicine
○ Review word elements such as combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes
○ Acquire an understanding of procedural and diagnostic terms
○ Understand anatomy as it relates to coding
Medical Terminology
● To code medical procedures and diagnoses accurately, you first must learn the language
of medicine
○ Many medical terms used today derive from the ancient Greeks and Romans
■ EX: latin phrase - pro re nata, which means when necessary- is the origin
of the medical abbreviation PRN
● The best way to learn medical terminology is by understanding word parts and elements
of medical language - root words, prefixes, and suffixes - which serve as the foundation
of out medical vocabulary
○ When you understand the meanings of each word part, interpretation of tens of
thousands of complex medical terms becomes easier
Root
● The base of the word is the root
○ Root words are terms standing alone as the main portion of a medical term
○ A prefix, suffix, and combining vowel may accompany it
○ The root word is the word part holding the fundamental meaning of the medical
term, and each medical term contains at least on root or base word
○ A word can have more than one root and a root may be used for different
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meanings based on the body system referred to
● Combining vowels are attached to root words to link the root word with the suffix, or one
root word to another root word
○ Combining vowels also make medical terms easier to pronounce
○ The most common vowels are O and I
○ Occasionally, these vowels are dropped altogether, such as when the suffix being
with a vowel
■ However the combining vowel is always placed between two root words,
even when the second root word begins with a vowel
● Combining forms are root words with a combining vowel
● Common root words and their combining forms associated with the body systems
include:
○ Integumentary System
Term Definition
Derm/o Skin
Dermat/o Skin
Hidr/o Sweat, perspiration
Kerat/o Keratin, horny layer of skin
Melan/o Dark, black, melanin
Onych/o Nail
Seb/o Sebum, sebaceous gland
Trich/o Hair
○ Musculoskeletal System
Term Definition
Arthr/o Joint
Burs/o Bursa, sac of fluid near joint
Chondr/o Cartilage
Erg/o Work
Fasci/o Fascia
Kin/o, kinesi/o Movement
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Muscul/o Muscle
My/o Muscle
Myel/o Bone Marrow, spinal cord
Oste/o Bone
Synov/i Synovial fluid, joint, or membrane
Ten/o, tendin/o Tendon
Ton/o Tone, pressure
○ Respiratory System
Term Definition
Bronch/o Bronchus
Laryng/o Larynx
Pharyng/o Pharynx
Phren/o Diaphragm
Phrenic/o Phrenic nerve
Pleur/o Pleura
Pneumon/o Lung
Pneum/o, pneumat/o Air, gas; respiration, lung
Pulm/o, pulmon/o Lungs
Rhin/o Nose
Sept/o Septum, partition, dividing wall
Spir/o Breathing
Trache/o Trachea
○ Cardiovascular System
Term Definition
Angi/o Vessel
Aort/o Aorta
Arter/o, Arteri/o Artery
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Arteriol/o Arteriole
Atri/o Atrium
Cardi/o Heart
Phleb/o Vein
Valv/o, Valvul/o Valve
Vas/o, vascul/o Vessel, duct
Ven/o, ven/i Vein
Ventricul/o Cavity, ventricle
○ Hemic and Lymphatic Systems
Term Definition
Erythr/o, erythrocyt/o Red blood cell
Hem/o, hemat/o Blood
Immun/o Immunity, immune system
Leuk/o, leukocyt/o White Blood Cell
Lymph/o Lymph, lymphatic system
Lymphaden/o Lymph node
Lymphangi/o Lymphatic vessel
Splen/o Spleen
Thromb/o Blood clot
Thymbocyt/o Platelet, thrombocyte
Thym/o Thymus gland
Tonsil/o Tonsil
○ Digestive System
Term Definition
Bucc/o cheek
Chol/e, chol/o Bile, gall
Cholangi/o Bile duct
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